84 
NEW ARKxlNGEMENT OF. 
nam tenuior ilia membrana lateralis a crassiore nec finditurj 
nec dirumpitur ; eadem ratione capitulum quoque depinxit 
gibbosius ad basin, quod tamen longe aliter se habet." 
Even Dr Hooker seems to think that Buxbaum mistook 
a line, formed by the shrinking of the capsule, for the 
suture of the valves," Buxbaum, however, was partly 
right ; for though the theca cannot be said to be really bi- 
valve, yet the upper portion actually separates from the 
lower, and fails to the ground, while the plant is undecayed. 
Among the specimens which the late Mr John Stewart 
was so fortunate as to find in Selkirkshire, were many 
thecse in this condition ; two of these we have before us^, 
and find that the upper membranaceous portion is com- 
pletely gone *, without the least apparent laceration, and 
the unruptured sporular sac is lying in the cavity of the 
remaining half. This fact is extremely curious. As the 
mouth of the theca in this moss is so strongly fortified, and 
as the inner, conical, membranaceous peristome shrinks 
without being deciduous, and consequently closes the ori- 
fice, — may not the above apparent valvular structure be a 
wise provision for the more complete dispersion of the spo- 
rules ? 
We have already noticed that this plant is really pos- 
sessed of leaves, though so minute as to escape the naked 
eye. Of that part on which they are found, Buxbaum 
observes, " Hie, omnibus destitutus foliis, ex basi rotunda 
villosa,"*' &c. In the Amcen. Academicas the base is called 
" Tuberculum subovatum, vestitum tomento-ferrugineo, 
minime repens," &c. The curious character given by Mi- 
CHELT, " Muscus nauus tuberosa radice, foliis juniperinis, 
tenuissime serratis capitulo magno ovato ventricoso ; calyp- 
* Vide Edinb. Phil Journ. vol, ii. p. 3TT. 
